VAN GISBERGEN FOURTH FASTEST ON FIRST DAY IN BAHRAIN
SP Tools Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen was the quickest of the Stone Brothers Racing cars after practice at the second round of the 2010 V8 Supercar series in Bahrain last night (NZ time) finishing fourth fastest for the day in combined lap times after a one year hiatus from the world class Bahrain International Circuit.
Van Gisbergen visited the track in 2008 when racing for Team Kiwi in a Stone Brothers Racing prepared Ford Falcon. The Bahrain race scheduled to take place last season was postponed in order to become the second event of the Middle East double feature in 2010.
Shane van Gisbergen – Driver, SP Tools Racing Car #9
“The new bit of road we are racing on is pretty cool. To start with today we just ran through the motions and did some longer runs. The surface of the track is really abrasive so the tyres didn’t last that long and our times dropped away a far bit. That’s why we ran a new set at the end just so we know what we have tomorrow in qualifying. A lot of guys didn’t do that so they might find themselves out of balance when they put on a new set.
“The car setup is good for qualifying but I think we need work on a bit more traction for the race. And just make sure it looks after the tyres over the 200kms tomorrow.
“The pace was still there today which is pretty encouraging. “
Team Vodafone again topped the time sheets, Craig Lowndes quickest with a 2.05.3174 from teammate Jamie Whincup with Jack Daniels' Racing's Todd Kelly third. SBR driver van Gisbergen was the pace-setter in the Ford camp and the only other driver to dip into the 2.05s, with a 2.05.7233.
Ford Performance Racing's Steve Richards and the Holden Racing Team's Garth Tander completing the top six with times in the low 2.06s.
This weekend's schedule again sees two 200km races, one on Friday night the other Saturday night.
Ends
BIC DESERT 400, Practice Sessions (combined) – RESULTS
1 888 TeamVodafone/Craig Lowndes 2:05.3174R
2 1 TeamVodafone/Jamie Whincup 2:05.6104
3 7 Jack Daniel's Racing/Todd Kelly 2:05.7015
4 9 SP Tools Racing/Shane van Gisbergen 2:05.7233
5 6 Dunlop Super Dealer FPR Falcon Steven Richards 2:06.1176
6 2 Toll Holden Racing Team/Garth Tander 2:06.3512
7 14 Trading Post Racing/Jason Bright 2:06.4957
8 4 IRWIN Racing/Alex Davison 2:06.5810
9 39 Supercheap Auto Racing/Russell Ingall 2:06.6384
10 51 Castrol Edge Racing/Greg Murphy 2:06.6954
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